My Little Graduates

The academic year has officially ended at KCTY. Things are changing around the school (especially for me), and I have yet to see whether the changes are good or not. They have moved my teaching desk from one side of the room to the other. They have also moved me from teaching the Kindergarten students to the Pre-school students. It's going to be more of a challenge, since I'm a little clueless about teaching kids. I can teach high school students, and I can show them the meaning behind the colors yellow and green in The Great Gatsby. It's been hard teaching 7yr olds though. I forget, they don't know how to stay in their seats, they can't differentiate things like past, present, and future tense that easily. I have to constantly remind myself how young they are. Which is a difficult task considering how old these kids seem. They are young, but under so much pressure that sometimes my little kindergarteners seem more like second graders.

Anyways, my little ones graduated today. It was a cute little ceremony held in our gym/library.   In many ways I felt sad, they just leave with a hand wave, and little second thoughts. You prep them, teach them, love them, and in the end they all fly away to grow up. Did I have an impact in their lives? Did I prepare them enough? Did I teach them good life lessons? I have to hope that some of my work will be remembered. How many of you remember your Kindergarten teacher though? I have vague memories of doing puzzles in a corner at play time, but beyond that I have no idea what I learned in Kindergarten. Yet, it's such a crucial time for development.  My little ones did leave me with copious amounts of hugs, smiles, and little love notes. Even if they don't remember me and the lessons I've taught them, I'll remember them and the joy they have brought me here.

My elementary kids didn't particularly care that they were leaving me. To be honest, I didn't mind seeing some of them go. I did have one student come up to me, and she whispered in my ear, "Teacher, I miss you so I want to cry." It melted my heart, and I asked her to give me a hug, but she left because she didn't want to cry. Moments like that let me know, I've done something right.

Today is in-service day. We get two spankin new teachers, who have no idea what they are in for. We lose two wonderful teachers who have been very kind to me, and I'm sad to see them go. Things are changing in the office, and for better or worse I'm gonna roll with the punches (I have to). At least I have tomorrow off, so I can enjoy a nice little mid-week break. I'll post pictures of my little graduates tomorrow, since I need to get ready for work now.